YORK City Knights have been tracking two former heroes in a bid to bring them back to Huntington Stadium.

The Evening Press believes the Knights have made approaches for both Austin Buchanan and Peter Fox with a mind to signing either or both of them on loan arrangements from their respective Super League clubs.

We also understand the National League Two champions are trailing a third player - Ryan Atkins, a young three-quarter who is in Bradford Bulls' first-team squad.

The Knights themselves are keeping tight-lipped about any potential recruits but it is known they are on the lookout for new blood. As we reported on Saturday, Mick Cook wants to boost the Knights' back-line in the wake of a worsening injury crisis which saw centre Mark Blanchard pick up a hand injury in the game at Hull KR to join fellow three-quarters Chris Spurr, Paul Clarke, Rob Spicer, Lee Lingard and captain Dan Potter, as well as utility player Mark Cain, on the treatment table.

However, the chances of any of the three players arriving at Huntington Stadium are unclear.

Fox scored a club record 25 tries in a season last year on loan from Leeds as the Knights won the NL2 title, and a return would go down well with the fans. But it is thought Rhinos boss Tony Smith is not keen for the York-born flier to go out again, even on a short-term arrangement, while he is not breaking into the first team at Leeds.

A return for Buchanan would also be a hit with the fans, the winger having scored 17 tries in 20 appearances for York prior to a move to Wakefield Trinity.

The Knights made an approach while he was not in the first-team picture at Belle Vue, but he was selected in the Wildcats side that faced Hull this weekend and he may now be set for a run in the team.

Atkins made his first-team debut for the Bulls in the Challenge Cup against Featherstone Rovers last season but, with several big names ahead of him in the World Club Champions' pecking order, has played virtually all his rugby for the Academy. He missed much of last season with a broken collar-bone but still finished as the Under-21s' leading try-scorer that year with 22 touchdowns.

Updated: 10:22 Wednesday, March 22, 2006